PM rules out giving leeway to opposition

Imran says PTI will not compromise over its anti-corruption manifesto to strike deal on FATF-related bills

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday ruled out giving any concessions to the opposition parties in exchange for their support for legislation on matters of national interest as the deadlock between them and the government over the proposed amendments to the country’s accountability law has also stalled debate on bills aimed at helping Pakistan’s removal from the global Financial Action Task Force’s (FATf) grey list.

“The opposition parties are putting in all their efforts to save their leaders from corruption cases but we will not compromise over our manifesto and give them an NRO,” the premier said while presiding over a meeting of the ruling PTI’s parliamentary party. “The government will not allow itself to be blackmailed by the opposition.”

The premier noted that the opposition had been trying to create hurdles in the legislation process since the start of the current government’s tenure.

“The FATF-related bills are necessary for the country and the opposition should support them,” he added.

“The opposition will stand exposed if its gives preference to personal gains over national interest.”

The premier maintained that the government was trying to amend the wrongs of the past but the opposition was using the forum of parliament to save its own politics.

He told lawmakers of his party that they were representatives of the people and should play an effective role in the lawmaking process in parliament.

He advised them to follow in the footsteps of the party’s lawmakers from Karachi and be more active in addressing the problems faced by their constituents.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi informed the participants of the meeting about the amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance proposed by the opposition parties and the government’s discussion with them on the matter.

He said accepting the proposed amendments would be tantamount to bringing an end to the accountability process in the country.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Industries and Production Minister Hammad Azhar said the passing of the two FTAF-related bills by both the National Assembly and Senate marked a victory for parliament and the country would hopefully be granted relief by the FATF in September.

He further said the government would table another FATF-related legislation, the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matter) Bill, in parliament on August 6 and strive to carry out more legislation before August 14.

According Financial Monitoring Unit Director General Lubna Farooq, Pakistan had managed to fully comply with 14 of the 27 points in the FATF action plan. The implementation report will be sent to the FATF by August 6.